THE 
CLASH  OF  THRONES 

A  SERIES  OF 

SONNETS 

ON  THE 

EUROPEAN  WAR 

BY 
HENRY    FRANK 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  STORY  OF  AMERICA  SKETCHED  IN  SONNETS" 


"Caesar's  spirit,  ranging  for  revenge, 
With  Ate  by  his  side,  come  hot  from  Hell, 
Shall,  in  these  confines,  with  a  Monarch's  voice, 
Cry  'Havock,'  and  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war." 

Anthony's  Oration,  "Julius  Ctesar." 


BOSTON:    RICHARD    G.   BADGER 
TORONTO:  THE  COPP  CLARK  co.,  LIMITED 


COPYRIGHT,  1915,  BY  HENRY  FRANK 


All  Rights  Reserved 

w. 


THE  GORHAM  PRESS,  BOSTON,  U.  S.  A. 


TO 
WOODROW  WILSON 

THE  NATION'S  STAFF  AND  SHIELD 
IN  ITS  HOUR  OF  DIRE  NEED 


PREFATORY  NOTE 

IN  utilizing  the  European  Conflict  as  a  theme 
for  a  sonnet  series,  the  object  of  the  author  was 
not  to  write  in  mere  generalizations,  but  to  give 
the  verses  a  certain  historical  value  by  incor 
porating,  as  far  as  possible  in  poetic  phraseology, 
the  passing  events  themselves.  In  this  way  they 
may  depict  a  sort  of  poetic  panorama  of  some 
of  the  great  issues  of  the  conflict. 

In  no  sense  has  the  author  embarked  upon  a 
historical  or  detailed  presentation.  He  wrote  as 
the  current  events  of  importance  inspired  him. 
He  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  find,  however, 
after  the  sonnets  which  had  been  written  during 
the  first  year  of  the  War  were  collected,  that  they 
fell  into  the  natural  subdivisions  set  forth  in  the 
table  of  contents.  This  was  purely  accidental  as 
no  such  "malice  prepense"  was  premeditated. 

Possibly  this  manner  of  presenting  the  Story 
of  the  War  may  assist  in  memorising  the  chief 
events.  To  this  end,  there  has  been  appended 
a  prosaic  feature,  containing  the  chronology  of 
the  principle  movements. 

In  the  section,  "The  Warring  Nations,"  the 
author  has  attempted  a  slight  intimation  of  the 
psychology  of  the  national  spirit  that  stirred  the 
people  to  action,  undertaking,  as  well,  to  indicate 

5 


Prefatory  Note 

the  motive,  whether  high  or  low,  and  the  pro 
phetic  possibilities  which  await  the  countries  in 
volved. 

If  there  be  a  seeming  inconsistency  in  the  au 
thor's  attitude  between  the  sonnets  depicting  the 
earlier  and  the  later  events,  the  explanation  lies 
in  the  fact  that  his  sympathies  and  reflections 
were  qualified  by  the  varying  trend  of  the  situa 
tions  as  the  war  proceeded. 

New  York  City,  September,  1915. 


CONTENTS 
SECTION  I.     INTRODUCTORY 

PAGE 

The  World  War n 

Woodrow  Wilson 13 

SECTION  II.     THE  WARRING  NATIONS 

Servia 17 

Germany 18 

Russia 19 

Belgium 20 

England 21 

Poland 22 

Italy 23 

T>       1 

1  urkey 24 

France 24  a 

Bulgaria 24  b 

The  United  States    (neutral)      ....  25 

SECTION  III.     WAR'S  HORRORS 

The  Rape  of  Belgium 29 

Louvain 30 

Lusitania 31 

Sinking  of  the  Arabic 33 

Where  Are  Thy  Sons,  Columbia?     ...  34 

Militarism 35 

7 


Contents 


War's  Harvest 36 

The  War  and  the  Proletariate     ....  37 

The  War  God 38 

The  Heathen  Laugh 39 

SECTION  IV.     THE  TREND  OF  PROGRESS 

The  Warring  Civilizations 43 

King  Albert 45 

Two  Phases  of  Patriotism 

I.     Barbaric  Patriotism 46 

II.     Ideal  Patriotism -.47 

Mars  Moriturus 48 

A   Prophetic   Epoch 50 

Amende  Honorable .51 

The  Fairer  Fruits  of  War 52 

Europa  Rejuvenata 53 

The  Consummation  to  Be  Wished  .     .     .     .  55 

The  War  Socialists 56 

The  Parliament  of  Peace 57 

The  Final  Treaty 58 

SECTION  V 

CHRONOLOGY  OF  LEADING  EARLY  EVENTS  .  61 


SECTION  I. 
INTRODUCTORY 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  WORLD  WAR 
i 

O,  NATIONS  of  the  World,  what  Woe  is  this, 
Which  Gulfs  of  Hell,  tempestuous,  hurl  in  fires 
Of  virulent  death  on  women  frail  and  sires 
Grey,  who  in  vain  swift  flee  its  violent  hiss, 
That,  flaming,  sings  the  Irony  of  Bliss 
And  Mockery  of  Toil,  in  raucous  choirs 
Of  plangent  hail,  whose  lips,  consuming,  kiss 
The  fairest  fruits  of  Peace  and  Hope's  desires. 

Is  this  the  Acme  of  Civilian's  pride; 

The  paean  over  Savagery;  the  end 

Of  Culture  and  exalted  Thought,  should  crown 

The  earth,  and  mark  the  march  of  Social  Trend? 

For  this  have  Centuries,  in  hurried  stride, 

The  globe  with  progress  girded,  and  renown? 


ii 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


II 

Hushed,  now,  the  buoyant  Voice  of  Hope,  that 

sung 

In  Ages  past  of  Man's  prophetic  Dreams 
And   golden   Wish!      Woe's   mists    o'erdim   the 

gleams 

Of  radiant  summits,  whence  th'  inspired  Tongue 
Of  prophets,  with  enraptured  vision,  flung 
The  joyous  notes  of  promised  Peace,  which  seems 
Millenniums  removed,  and  rudely  wrung 
From    hands   that    almost   touched   her   nearing 

beams. 

Truth's  noble  brow  is  smote  with  sabred  blood, 
And  souls,  who  served  at  Wisdom's  fanes,  are 

crushed 

'Neath  red  War's  brutal  heel,  which  stamps  dis 
may 

Athwart  the  world,  and  conjures  Horror's  brood 
At    Sorrow's    banquet,    whilst    blanched    Hope, 

though  hushed, 
Faints  not  but  glimpses  Love's  approaching  Day. 


12 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


WOODROW  WILSON 


HE    pleads    the    Standards    of    Man's    age-won 

.  Right, 
Whilst,   e'en,   the   flame-singed  Wolves  of  War 

engage 

In  the  wild  whirlwind  of  destructive  rage. 
He  pleads  Columbia's  unselfish  Might, 
To  shield  the  Neutral  World  from  ancient  blight, 
Of  earth's  once  primitive  and  lawless  Age, 
When  War's  envenomed  fangs  could  snap  and 

bite, 
With  vengeful  lust,  in  Hate's  redundant  rage. 

The  primal  curse  must  not  o'ertop  the  times, 
And  drag  Civilians  back  to  untamed  ways, 
Of  brutal  savagery  and  hideous  vice. 
Shall  we,  unchallenging  nefarious  crimes, 
Permit  their  ravaging  and  direful  plays, 
All  heedless  of  the  cost  and  sacrifice? 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


II 

Calm,    midst   the   cataclysmic   clash   of   thrones, 
He  reigns,  imperious,  in  Reason's  realm, 
Though  the  red  waves  of  Hell  the  world  o'er- 

whelm. 

Nor  purblind  dullness  of  pacific  Drones, 
Nor  taunt  of  Jingoists'  contemptuous  tones, 
Can  swerve  the  Pilot  at  the  Nation's  helm, 
Who  guides  the  Ship  of  State  through  dangerous 

zones, 
Where  Death  lurks  crouching  in  the  foamy  film! 

As  when  a  Star,  through  rift  of  tattered  clouds, 
Beams  hopefully  upon  the  darkened  earth, 
And  promises  a  day  of  blue  and  balm; 
So,  now,  when  Gloom   the   ruptured  world  en 
shrouds, 

His  Mind  glows  o'er  the  globe's  embattled  girth, 
An  Orb  prophetic  of  approaching  calm. 


SECTION  II. 
THE  WARRING  NATIONS 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


SERVIA 

THE   Assassin's   shot   that   smote   the   Austrian 

throne, 

Struck,  from  the  flint  of  thy  ambitious  aim, 
The  Spark,  whence  sprung  the  world-engulfing 

Flame 

That  laps  mankind  within  its  war-waved  zone. 
Thy  Courage,  heartened  by  the  growling  tone, 
Of  watchful   Northern   Bear  when   sought   for 

game, 

Revealed  Teutonia's  secret  purpose,  prone 
On  cowing  Empires  into  subjects  tame. 

Pan-Slavic,  pan-Germanic  Swords  now  clash; 

A  continent  is  crimsoned  in  a  sea 

Of  surging  blood;  and  Beasts  of  Prey  o'er-range 

The  once  rich  fields,  where  fiery  Serpents  flash. 

Ay,  doubtful  looms  the  Star  of  Liberty, 

And  wan  is  Hope,  distraught  and  passing  strange ! 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


GERMANY 

THE    Land,    where    peaceful    Arts    in    splendor 

reigned, 

And  lofty  Dreams  inspired  the  soul  of  Man, 
Is  now,  through  breadth  of  her  imperial  span, 
By  shameless  infamy  o'erblotched  and  stained. 
Whate'er  her  martial  Prowess  shall  have  gained, 
Though  her  bold  Eagles  lead  the  bravest  van, 
And  crush  all  foes  with  ardor  unrestrained, 
Her  fate  is  doomed  to  Fame's  derisive  ban. 

Vain  Kaiser,  if  but  proud  Ambition  spurred 
Thy  Spirit  to  flash  thy  glory  on  the  sun, 
O'erdazzling  Bonaparte's  resplendent  schemes, 
Thy  vision  is  by  Folly's  glamor  blurred: 
For  Mankind,  undeceived,  will  learn  to  shun 
A  madman's  claims  and  world-destroying  dreams. 


18 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


RUSSIA 

GRIM  Land  of  Slavic  gloom  and  mystery, 
Cimmerian  depths  where  dwell  the  shadowy  gods, 
And  Genius  springs  from  unsuspected  sods, 
Whilst  Multitudes,  with  fear  and  faltering  knee, 
Lie  cowering  in  direst  bigotry, 
Some  mystic  Power  thy  stirring  soul  applauds : 
Perchance,  War's  Teeth  may  snap  the  Despot's 

rods, 
And  free  thy  fledgling  wings  of  liberty. 

Then,  from  the  beauteous  heights  of  lofty  Truth, 

The  Sun  of  Social  Justice  shall  disperse 

The  Hatreds  of  thy  racial  tyrannies. 

Transformed,  thy  Nation  shall  renew  its  youth, 

Fair  Liberty  become  Ambition's  nurse, 

And  Progress  hail  the  ever  brightening  skies. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


BELGIUM 

A  BEAUTEOUS  and  modest  Bird  of  Peace — 
That  labored  for  her  Young,  and  her  pure  nest 
From  foul  invasion  of  invidious  pest 
Protected,  mindful  but  that  she  increase 
Her  useful  offspring,  and  that  dangers  cease 
To  terrorize  their  lives,  till  Nature  pressed 
Them  forward  from  a  mother's  nestling  breast — 
Slept  brooding,  her  head  beneath  her  wings,  in 
peace. 

A  shrill  and  hideous  Shriek  the  soft  air  smites, 
As,  waking,  o'er  her  hung  a  Vampire  Bird, 
That    thrust    his    bleeding    talons    toward    her 

breast! 

She  trembled  at  the  swarm  of  murderous  kites 
That  followed,  yet,  heedless  of  the  threats  she 

heard, 
Fought  dauntlessly  to  save  her  shattered  nest. 


20 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


ENGLAND 

LET  not  Tradition's  calm,  complacent  mind 

Deceive  with  idle  vanity:  thy  power, 

Since   erst  thou  taught'st  the   Spanish   crown  to 

cower, 

Is  challenged  to  the  death:  and,  undermined, 
Thy  mighty  Dreadnaughts  tremble  in  the  wind, 
As  o'er  thy  little  Isle  Air-Terrors  glower, 
Thy  listless,  halting  people  to  remind, 
That   e'en   from   Heaven   may   fall   Hell's   fiery 

shower. 

Not  all  of  glory,  Britain,  is  thy  fame: 

Thy  'Scutcheon's  stains  are  deep  and  glare :  but 

Man 
Forgives,    and    hails    thee    Freedom's    stalwart 

Friend. 

Thy  Sword,  unsheathed  in  Liberty's  fair  name, 
Strikes  for  Democracy's  unhindered  span, 
That  Might,  henceforth,  but  Human  Right  de 
fend. 


21 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


POLAND 

LORN  Niobe  of  Nations,  gaunt  and  wan, 
How  oft  has  bled  thy  tortured,  war-torn  Breast! 
Crass  Destiny  has  scorned  thy  racial  crest, 
And  cast  thy  Pride  beneath  the  Despot's  ban. 
E'en  Blood  of  Kosciusko's  valorous  clan, 
Nor  countless  Sons,  heroic  death  caressed, 
Could    drive    the    Tyrant    from    thy    crimsoned 

span, 
Nor  recompense  thy  Wrongs  still  unredressed. 

Mayhap,  the  disemboweling  Throes  of  War 
Shall   snap   the    Chains,    thy   weary   limbs   have 

bound, 

And  seize  the  Sceptre  from  usurping  Thrones. 
Then  shalt  thou  knock  again  at  Freedom's  door, 
And,  enteringr  a  nobler  Nation  found, 
Midst  welling  anthems  and  exultant  tones. 


22 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


ITALY 

SPURS  Scipio's  Spirit  the  valor  of  thy  hosts, 
And  leaps  proud  Sulla's  courage  in  thy  veins, 
To  cleanse  thy  shield  of  shame  and  martial  stains, 
So  long  have  dimmed  the  splendor  of  thy  coasts, 
Since  spurned  by  Bonaparte's  defiant  boasts? 
Recrowned  a  Nation,  do  the  wild  refrains 
Of  Vict'ry,  echoed  in  thy  banquet  toasts, 
Awake  the  slumber  of  thy  storied  plains? 

Yet,  if  but  Goal  of  Lucre  lure  thy  quest — 
The  Lust  of  land,  the  Loot  of  strange  domains, — 
The  Glory  of  thy  Alpine  feats  shall  fade, 
Whate'er  thy  Prowess  or  thy  Sword's  behest 
None  but  the  Brave,  in  Freedom's  Cause  arrayed, 
Immortal,  win  the  world's  undimmed  acclaims. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


TURKEY 

THE  spectral  Sword  of  Mahomet  awoke 
Muezzin  calls  on  many  a  Turkish  plain, 
With  cryptic  Promise  of  a  Holy  Reign, 
Would   sway  its   ancient   Power,   when   Europe, 

broke 
On    War's    disrupting    wheel,    would   wield    the 

stroke 

Of  suicidal  rage.     The  sturdy  strain, 
Of  Saracen  and  furious  Bashi-bazouk, 
Was  summonsed  far  to  swell  the  Prophet's  gain. 

But  fading  like  a  spectre  of  the  night. 

The  Arm  of  Mahomet  dissolved  in  air, 

And  o'er  his  troops  arose  the  Cross  of  Christ! 

They   seek  no   more   the   Crescent's   glimmering 

Light, 

But  where  the  wily  Teuton  leads,  they  glare, 
And  battle  bravely  as  in  baffling  mist. 


24 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


FRANCE 

THY  Story,  lithe  and  brave,  mercurial  France, 
Enchants  us  like  the  Lore  of  Mythic  Lays ! 
Oft  have  the  heroes  of  thy  tragic  days, 
Baptised  in  blood  of  glory  and  romance, 
For  Truth  and  Liberty  broke  thy  bold  lance ! 
Undaunted,  thou  hast  sought  the  stormiest  ways, 
To  rouse  Mankind  from  Stupor's  sullen  trance, 
All  heedless  of  Convention's  curse  or  praise. 

Unboastful  of  thy  valor,  when  grim  Fate 
Forestalled  thy  readiness,  and  Teuton's  Ire 
Spread  flame  and  havoc  o'er  thy  richest  fields, 
The  spirit  of  thy  deep,  unfathomed  Hate 
So  whelmed  the  foe  with  swift  avenging  fire, 
It  proved  the  blow  a  god  in  triumph  wields. 


24  a 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


BULGARIA 

BENEATH  the  shadows  of  thy  Balkan  range, 
How  tragic  are  the  scenes  that  Time  has  played, 
As  Honor,  oft  by  Treachery  betrayed, 
With  bowed  head  watched  the  swift  and  bloody 

change 

Of  Rulers — the  Assassin's  Blade  exchange 
Its  daring  for  a  Conqueror's  crown,  and  trade 
A  sceptre  for  a  Faith  more  bold  and  strange, 
As  thy  frail  throne,  or  Cross  or  Crescent  swayed. 

Mayhap,  to  thee  stern  Destiny  has  given 
The  fatal  chance  to  throw  the  loaded  dice, 
Shall   win   the   Trick   that   ends    the   murd'rous 

game. 

If  so,  or  right  or  wrong,  yon  judging  Heaven 
Shall  prove,  as  Time  displays  the  costly  price, 
A  Mad  World  paid  for  trophies  of  its  shame! 


24  b 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  UNITED  STATES 

(NEUTRAL) 

'Tis  nobler  far,  with  stately  Calm,  and  wise 
Reserve  of  Judgment  on  contending  foes, 
To  harbor  patient  Peace,  whose  Boon  bestows 
On  struggling  Man  the  fruits  that  Freemen  prize, 
Than  yield  to  clash  of  arms  and  savageries, 
Impulsive  Passions  cause.    Thy  fair  Name  glows 
With  Justice,  through  the  wide,  expanding  skies, 
Where'er  thy  far-flung  Flag  its  splendor  throws. 

Then,  proud  Columbia,  cast  not  thy  fate 

Into  the  gory  maelstrom,  the  dazed  world 

Appals ;  conserve  thy  ire  and  thy  hate, 

For  WRONGS,  shall  from  age-vested  thrones  be 

hurled. 

For  ne'er,   dishonored,  shall  thy  flag  be  furled, 
Nor  Peace,  thy  valorous  sons  degenerate. 


SECTION  III. 
WAR'S  HORRORS 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  RAPE  OF  BELGIUM 

NOT  Waters  of  ten  thousand  Seas  shall  cleanse 
The  stain,  O  Prussia,  on  thy  smirched  Name; 
The  Glory  once,  of  whose  untarnished  fame, 
Shone  brilliantly  o'er  ignorance  and  dense 
Stupidity,  where  men  in  darkling  fens 
Of    base    gloom    groveled;    now,    by    senseless 

Shame 

Is  blighted,  and  sinks  beneath  the  shrouded  glens, 
Where  lie  the  Damned  who  fouled  in  Life's  fair 

game. 

Though  blasted  Belgium  at  thy  feet  lies  low, 
And  thy  blood-seeking  Vultures  sink  their  bills 
In  her  proud  breast  and  writhe  her  festering  sore, 
She  shall,  Prometheus-like,  the  gods  o'erglow, 
And  kindle  altars  on  her  shattered  hills, 
Shall  deathless  life  to  her  brave  soul  restore. 


29 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


LOUVAIN 

THE  Conqueror's  curse  fell  on  thy  walls,  Louvain, 

And  trampled  ruthlessly  the  classic  flowers 

Of   Knowledge,   that  blossomed  in  thy  learned 

bowers. 

Midst  sad  debris  the  student  now,  in  vain, 
Shall  court  the  offspring  of  thy  learned  brain, 
Or  seek  sweet  solace,  where  Medusa  glowers 
O'er  ashen  friezes  crushed  by  iron  rain, 
That  fell  like  flaming  sheets  in  fiery  showers. 

Where  now  the  dreams  that  Science  weaves  for 

Man: 

The  Magic  Powers  would  woo  supernal  Peace 
From  Hesperus,  where  grew  the  golden  food: — 
The  cryptic  visions,  Prophets  fondly  scan 
From  favoring  skies,  bespeaking  War's  surcease, 
And  blissful  boon  of  Earthly  Brotherhood! 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


LUSITANIA 


FROM    where    the    Deep    its    booming    thunder 

heaves, 

And  fathomless,  mysterious  Tragedies 
Conceal  their  horror  from  the  searching  skies; 
Where    Tempests    plow    and    gather    whitening 

sheaves 

Of  billowy  crests;  or  stately  Vessel  leaves 
A  glistening  trail,  replete  with  memories 
To  dreamy  mariners;  each  atom  grieves 
With  echo  of  forgotten  infamies. 

But  none  so  black,  so  gruesome  or  so  damned, 

As  this,  the  Scientific  Pirate  wrought, 

Defiant  of  all  progress  and  humane 

Advance.       Not    Hell,     for    ages    choked    and 

crammed 

With  villainies,  e'er  one  so  hideous  sought, 
As  this  the  acme  of  an  Age  insane. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


II 

The   trembling  Voice   of  Hope   is   hushed;   the 

Tongue 

Of  Peace  is  "jangled  out  of  tune";  the  Love, 
That  once  Teutonia  and  Columbia  wove 
Round  hearts  in  mutual  purpose  bound,  is  wrung 
With  pain;  and  now,  with  poisoned  arrows  stung, 
The   ancient   Friendship,   pierced   so   deep,   may 

prove 

Too  frail,  and  falter  at  the  insults  flung 
From    waves,    whence    Death    smote    men    with 

Hell's  mailed  glove ! 

By  this  demoniac  deed  the  earth  may  rock; 
All  nations  on  both  continents  be  dashed 
In  overwhelming  ruin,  and  Fury  strain 
Its  violence !     Though  Demons  leer  and  mock, 
'Twere  better  Continents  in  armor  clashed, 
Than  Tyranny  availed  o'er  Freedom's  reign. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


SINKING  OF  THE  ARABIC 

WHAT!  Has  the  invidious  Kaiser's  reason  flown? 
Would  he,  in  face  of  fate,  the  friendship  fair, 
Columbia  proffered,  spurn?     Recks  he  to  share 
A  villain's  glory  and  wear  a  demon's  crown, 
Or  drool  through  history  the  maniac-clown, 
Who  hurled  Hell's  bursting  bowels  through  the 

air, 

And  sought  the  world  in  plangent  flame  to  drown, 
Beneath  his  gratified  and  gloating  glare, 
Where   victims   of   his   pirate   flags   lie   strewn? 

With  patient  hope  Columbia  has  borne 

His  brutal  impudence  and  savage  thrust, 

Conceiving  him  amenable  to  Right. 

But  Ye,  her  solemn  pleas  disdain  with  scorn, 

Beware  her  Titan  blow!     If  strike  she  must, — 

The  Stars  enlist  to  panoply  her  Might! 


33 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


WHERE  ARE  THY  SONS,  COLUMBIA? 

WHERE  are  thy  Sons,  Columbia,  shall  fend 
Thy  noble  Front,  so  feebly  guarded  yet, 
By  forts  and  cannon  on  high  mountains  set, 
If,  unforewarned,  the  Vandal  seek  to  rend 
Thy  vitals,  mock  thy  power,  and  offend 
Thy  courteous  and  trustful  mien,  which  let 
The  Foe,  unseen,  his  bloody  pathway  wend, 
Ere  thou,  aroused,  his  conquering  army  met? 

To  nurse  sweet  Peace  in  lap  of  Luxury, 

All  unsuspicious  of  the  lurking  foe, 

Is  Sampson's  folly  in  Delilah's  arms! 

Wait  not,  Fair  Land,  till  War  Hounds  howl,  and 

cry 

Wild  havoc  on  thy  shores;  till  falls  the  Blow, 
That  cows  with  Fear  and  Horror's  weird  alarms! 


34 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


MILITARISM 

A  VAST  Colossus  of  weird  enginery, 

Whose   myriad   limbs    are    charged   with    tragic 

death, 
And    whose    fell    throat    exhales    the    poisoned 

breath, 

That  wrecks  the  rose  of  health  and  artistry 
Of  genius,  shattering  Hope  and  Liberty 
In  sulphurous  havoc;   from  whose  silent  sheath 
Forth  flourishes  the  Sword  of  Destiny, 
To  madden  men  with  Ministry  of  Death ! — 

Such  is  the  Frankenstein  ambitious  Trade 
Hath    summonsed    forth    from    hells    of    Social 

Strife, 

To  gain  by  Force  what  Wisdom  would  disdain; 
A  frightful  Ogre,  whose  far-blighting  shade 
Destroys  the  rarest  buds  that  bloom  in  life, 
And  turns  insensate  men  to  brutes  insane. 


35 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


WAR'S  HARVEST 

A  MILLION  soldiers  lie  strewn  on  battle  fields, 
And  anguished  mothers  mourn  their  direful  loss, 
Who,  to  grim  Mars,  a  million  more  may  toss, 
Ere  his  stern  Front  to  pallid  Sorrow  yields. 
For,  while  the  glum  War-god  his  power  wields, 
Still  dazed  with  patriotic  cheer,  they  gloss 
Their  dismal  woe  with  frenzied  joy,  which  shields 
Them,  momently,  from  sense  of  utter  Loss. 

Yet  Ye,  who  drave  them  to  their  Widowed  Woe 
And    Childless    Motherhood:    who    tore    their 

breasts 

With  sorest  suff'ring  a  woman  can  endure; 
What  comfort  for  their  broken  hearts  (the  glow 
Once  faded  from  War's  corruscating  crests) 
Will  your  vain  Pride  and  all  your  Boasts  secure? 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  WAR  AND  THE  PROLETARIATE 

WHEN  from  the  nightmare  of  war  the  Masses 

awake, 
And  recall  the  wild  horror  and  pitiless  woe  of 

Hell's  rage; 
When   Mammon    again   o'erpowers   their   lives, 

and  the  wage, 
They  receive,  is  the  charnel-house  price  they  dare 

not  forsake; 
When  they  think  that  for  this  they  plunged  in  the 

fiery  lake, 

To  risk,  with  furious  passion,  in  battle's  mad  wage, 
Their    lives    and    their    homes,    that    Mammon 

again  might  make 

Them  his  dupes  and  his  slaves  in  toilers'  impris 
oning  cage; 
What  then,  O  Masters  and  Kings,  will  the  masses 

ordain? 
Beware,  when  the   armor  thou'st  trained  these 

mad  men  to  use, 
Shall  be  turned  not  on  brothers-in-toil,   thou'st 

trained  them  to  smite, 
But  on   thee;  when  thy  dupes   have   recovered 

from  horror  and  pain; 
When  Patriot's  passion  shall  have  died  in  their 

breast,  and  loose 
From  false  fear,  they  turn  Freedom's  day  into 

riotous  night! 

37 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  WAR  GOD 

A  GARGOYLE-HEADED  Monster  rears  from  Hell 

His  huge,  Gargantuan  figure,  shot  with  flame 

From  bowels  of  immitigable  shame, 

And  fills  the  world  with  wild,  reverb'rant  yell 

Of  insane  demons,  bent  on  havoc  fell, 

Who  leap  in  legions  from  his  pregnant  frame, 

To  damn  the  earth  with  Death's  sardonic  game, 

Of  hurling  living  souls  'gainst  cannon's  shell ! 

O  Monster,  hide  thy  battle-fevered  face, 
Take  back  to  hell  thy  blood-splashed  armor,  red, 
Thy  tarnished  fame  and  false  demoniac  pride! 
No  fouler  curse  hath  e'er  befall'n  the  race, 
Than  ruin  by  thy  murd'rous  cohorts  spread, 
Since  Reason  foundered  in  thy  gory  tide. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  HEATHEN  LAUGH 

ARE  Christian  Thought  and  Power  so  feeble  still, 
They  suffer  Satan's  Hordes  to  master  earth, 
And  gird  its  sullen,  havoc-smitten  girth, 
With  fires  of  Hell's  consuming,  torturous  grill, 
Whilst  fratricidal  Hatreds,  sore  realms  fill 
With  dire  spawn  of  Penury  and  Dearth, 
And,  men's  stark  souls,  avenging  Horrors  thrill, 
With  savage  glee  and  maniacal  mirth? 

The  Heathen  chortle  with  sardonic  laugh, 
And  hang  Lord  Christ  again  upon  a  tree, 
To  scoff  a  crucified  and  conquered  King; 
Whilst  rampant  Demons  joyous  triumphs  quaff, 
From  chalices  of  vengeful  mockery, 
And  pierce  a  faltering  Faith  with  jeering  sting! 


39 


SECTION  IV. 
THE  TREND  OF  PROGRESS 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  WARRING  CIVILIZATIONS 


WHAT  Titan  buffets  through  the  veins  of  men, 
And  drives  them,  armored,  to  the  Gates  of  Hell? 
What  Prophecies  do  woeful  Deeds  foretell, 
Whilst  Hordes  are  writhing  in  War's  bloody  den? 
Who  hath  the  power  to  wield  Prevision's  pen, 
And  penetrate  the  battle's  glamourous  spell; 
Or  grip,  within  his  far  discerning  ken, 
The  secret  Hand  that  hurls  the  shattering  shell? 

Nor  Czar  nor  Kaiser,  Lust  of  Rule,  nor  Trade, 
Nor  e'en  the  Lure  of  Conquest,  hath  inspired 
Infuriate  Monsters  to  o'erwhelm  the  Age: 
But  Forces,  finer  far,  that  Mankind  grade 
Twixt  Savagery  and  Sanity,  have  fired 
Men's    stalwart    hearts    with    War's    embittered 
rage. 


43 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


II 

Up   from  the  bowels  of  forgotten  time, 
Have  welled  the  Enmities  that  hidden  lay 
Twixt  Spirits  that  contend,  in  unseen  fray, 
For  Mental  Sovranty  and  Power  prime, 
Which  seek  ascendancy  in  every  clime, 
And  shape  the  Souls  that  strive,  in  human  clay, 
For  juster  laws  and  realms  of  lesser  crime, 
Than  what  have  mocked  the  ends  for  which  men 
pray. 

The  Hosts  that  battle  now  are  subtle  Thoughts, 

Rude  shattering  the  templed  Deities, 

So  long  have  held  men's  faltering  minds  in  awe; 

'Tis  Destiny  bespeaks,  in  thunderous  shots, 

The  overturn  of  false  amenities, 

And  Man's  escape  from  Error's  blinding  flaw. 


44 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


KING  ALBERT 

AT  that  dark  hour  when   Earth,   in   shroud  of 

shame, 

Bewailed  the  midnight  of  its  insane  woe, 
One  Star,  undimmed,  illumed  the  world  below, 
O'er-writ  with  splendor  of  a  deathless  name, 
More  glorious  than  flare  of  War's  red  flame, 
Or  valor  seen  in  battle's  bloody  show: — 
Shall  mankind  e'er  awake  to  nobler  fame, 
Than  glamor  false  on  fields  of  martial  glow. 

Tho'  now  an  exiled  King  in  foreign  lands, 
A  warrior  battling  for  but  Human  Right, 
He  towers,  like  an  Agamemnon,  o'er 
The   sullied  crowns   that   scar   earth's   reddened 

sands, 

And  flaunts  an  Auriflame  of  spotless  light, 
That   soars,    unconquered,    o'er   the   scourge   of 

war! 


45 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


TWO  PHASES  OF  PATRIOTISM 
I 

BARBARIC    PATRIOTISM 

WITH   flag  of  my   Nation  wrapped  round  my 

frame,  and  sword 
Of    defiance  gripped    firm    in    its    sheath;    with 

heroic  proclaim 
Of  my  Country's  proud  prowess  and  flaunt  of 

puissant  fame; 
With  fanfare  of  trumpets  and  wild  martial  airs 

that  gird 
My  heart  with  resolves   at   Mar's   shrine;  with 

shouts  that  have  stirred 

The  foundations  of  Peace  and  struck  the  precipit 
ous  flame, 
The  world  hath  consumed  in  War's  fiery  maw; — 

the  Word 
I  incarnate,  that  awakens  a  Nation  to  glory  or 

shame. 

I  am  flame  of  the  sword  and  shriek  of  the  gun; 

I  am  brave 
With  the  boast  of  the  Braggart's  defy;  I  swear 

by  the  land 
That  gave  me  my  birth,  and  shall  aid  it  to  tower 

o'er  all, 

46 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


Till  its  name  shall  be  feared,  and  its  pardon  the 
boldest  shall  crave, 

Where'er  she  unfurls  her  flag's  fairest  folds,  or 
where  stand 

Her  Soldiers  arrayed  in  response  to  her  soul- 
stirring  call. 

II 

IDEAL   PATRIOTISM 

Reborn,  I  come  to  bless,  not  curse  the  earth 
With  vain,  inglorious  boast  and  selfish  schemes; 
I  come  to  charm  mankind  with  nobler  dreams, 
Than    e'er    the    world    inspired,    since    primal 

birth 

Of  Hope,  whose  spirit  buoyed  Freedom's  girth, 
And  glorified  the  globe  with  golden  beams! 
For  Sympathy,  not  Hate,  at  my  rebirth, 
Shall   drain   the   bed   of  War's   blood-reddened 

streams. 

Hence,  armies  shall  be  mobilized  to  slay 

The  foes  unseen,  that  lurk  in  human  veins ; 

And  swift,  aerial  ships  explore  the  sky, 

The  mist-shod  steps  of  Death's  brigades  to  stay; 

Whilst  Justice,  on  far  heights,  with  searching  eye, 

For  Honor  scans  the  error-laden  plains. 

47 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


MARS  MORITURUS 


WHEN  War,  on  gorgeously  accoutred  steed, 
Pranced   proudly   forth   from   wreckage   of   the 

fields, 

With  music's  throb  and  flash  of  furbished  shields, 
Mankind,    o'erglamored,    praised    the    warrior's 

meed, 

Despite  the  butchery  and  gory  greed 
Of  Cannon's  lust,  or  wanton  Sword,  that  wields 
Its  Mastery  of  Death,  as  columns  speed 
Precipitous,  through  shelled  and  shattered  fields. 

They  hailed  him  Prince  of  Chivalry,  and  god 
Of  noblest  virtues,  whose  aspiring  Dreams 
Must  first  be  purged  by  fratricidal  fires: 
His  crimsoned  Feet  wooed  flowers  from  the  sod; 
His  bleeding  Wounds   refreshed  the   spring-fed 

streams : 
Rare  melodies  thrummed  he  from  sleeping  lyres ! 


48 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


II 

But  grizzled,  now,  and  shorn  of  radiant  locks, 
His  perfumed  breath  as  vile  as  shamble's  fumes; 
With     blood-blotched     helmet     and     bedabbled 

plumes, 

His  gory-visaged,  gashed  Grimace,  Man  shocks! 
The  World,  awakened  from  Delusion,  mocks 
The  braggart  War  that  makes  a  million  tombs, 
And  e'en  the  balanced  globe  with  terror  rocks, 
As  armies  vanish  in  sepulchral  glooms. 

No  more  thy  visored  Brow  or  Helmet's  Sheen, 
O  Mars,  thy  Bugle-Blast  or  stirring  Drum, 
With   Cannon's    Challenge,    shall   our   manhood 

test; 
No    more    shall    Nations    spurred    by    Hatred's 

spleen, 

Seek  in  embattled  trenches  grim  and  dumb, 
The  gory  Climax  of  thy  Ghoulish  Quest! 


49 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


A  PROPHETIC  EPOCH 

THIS  topmost  Reach  of  Centuries  is  torn, 

(As  Etna  was  by  mad  Empodocles, 

Who    spat    contemptuous    flames,    from    sunken 

seas, 

Upon  an  Age,  of  pristine  virtue  shorn), 
And  hails  upon  its  blood-red  heights,  the  Morn 
Of  some  New  Day,  whose  vague,  impelling  pleas 
Invite  to  Glories  of  an  Age  Unborn, 
For  which,  distraught,  men  fight  on  bloody  knees. 

{• 

For,  from  the  Starry  Silences  a  Voice, 
In  mystic  Prophecy  from  ancient  time, 
Bespoke  the  Climax  of  contending  Foes, 
When  Man,  redeemed,  with  angels  would  rejoice, 
That  Peace,  with  golden  gifts  in  every  clime, 
Would    Earth    endow,    and    end    War's    bitter 

throes ! 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


AMENDE  HONORABLE* 

DOES,  then,  the  iron  Ear  of  Mars  descend 
To  hear  the  protests  of  an  angered  world, 
And  stays  he  e'en  the  stealthy  shot,  would  wend 
Its  path,  unseen,  through  billowy  plains,  when 

hurled 

By  murderous  hands  to  slaughter  innocents? 
What's  done  cannot  be  undone  e'en  by  Mars; 
Nor  souls  restored  that  fell  on  fiery  vents, 
Which  burst  from  hell  and  dashed  from  flaming 

stars. 

Yet  Hope,  with  slender  wreath,  may  crown  the 

brow 
Of  Peace,  and  poise  her  white  wings  toward  the 

sky. 

That  faintly  limns  a  dim,  prophetic  bow, 
Presaging  Man's  ennobling  Liberty. 
For  in  high  heaven  or  on  the  boisterous  sea, 
No  Power  shall  dare  to  stay  the  Fair  and  Free  1 

*  The  Kaiser  is  reported  to  be  willing  to  make  restitution 
for  the  loss  of  the  Arabic  and  Lusitania.  Despatch,  August 
31st. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  FAIRER  FRUITS  OF  WAR 

NOT  all  of  havoc  is  the  aftermath, 
Not  all  of  slaughter,  rapine  and  revenge, 
Nor  pestilence  upon  its  gory  fringe, 
That  Armageddon  leaves  within  its  path: 
As  flowers  leap  from  Spring's  torrential  bath, 
So  Tenderness  and  Sympathy,  that  hinge 
On  suffering,   and  Cheer  for  those  who  cringe, 
Are    finer    feelings,    wrought    from   War's   wild 
wrath. 

The    Soft    and    Pampered   learn    in    Hardship's 

School 

The  rugged  joys  of  life;  the  walls  of  caste 
Are  shattered;  and  the  Lowly,  as  is  fit, 
Respect  Democracy's  unfoibled  rule; 
Whilst  They,  who  lusted  in  life's  wanton  waste, 
To  nobler  uses  now  their  lives  submit. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


EUROPA  REJUVENATA 


A  SURGING  Deluge  swamps  the  shores  of  Time, 
And  swirls  upon  its  crest  the  rotten  base 
Of  centuries — its  crumbling  creeds  the  Race 
Benumbed,  its  false  ideals,  social  slime, 
The  weak  despair  of  its  decadent  prime — 
All,   all,   the  bloody   Maelstrom   doth   embrace, 
And   dash,   demolished,  midst  discordant  rhyme 
Of  Man's  mad  music  and  supreme  disgrace. 

Anon  the  white  Moon  o'er  the  pallid  fields 

Of  Peace,  exultantly  her  promise  speaks, 

Of  Glory  that  shall  gild  the  rash  debris 

Of  wanton  War,  when  Wisdom  once  more  wields 

Her  power,  in  minds  made  sane  through  Woe, 

that  wreaks 
The  compensation,  Strife  merits  for  the  Free. 


53 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


II 

From  Baltic  Sea  to  Bosphorus,  from  shores 
Of  British  Isles  to  Ural  heights,  a  NEW 
REPUBLIC  shall  its  irene  folds  of  blue 
Unfurl,  and  mould  the  mixed  mosaic  floors 
Of    Freedom's    Fane    from    blood    of    myriad 

Scores, 
Who  glimpsed,  midst  cannon's  roar,  the  mystic 

view 

Of  Unity  'twixt  once  embattled  shores, 
And  nations  merged  in  racial  friendship  true. 

'Neath  One  Majestic  Flag  shall  Europe  bow, 

A  continental  union  of  all  flags, 

Where     every     man     his     sovran     rights     shall 

claim, 

And  Liberty  henceforth,  with  sacred  vow, 
Shall  dedicate  the  very  stones  and  crags, 
To  just  Democracy's  exalted  aim. 


54 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  CONSUMMATION  TO  BE  WISHED 

WHEN  crushed  and  writhing  in  his  angry  wounds, 
The  grim  War-Beast  his  lacerated  frame 
Bemoans,  and  Sanity  returns  to  shame 
Crime's  Saturnalia,  whose  echo  sounds 
Benumbing  o'er  the  earth,  the  trampled  Grounds 
Of  Justice  shall  emerge  with  fairer  fame, 
And,  freed  from  frenzy  of  the  bloody  game, 
Again  disport  Hope's   rose-embowered  mounds. 

Then  shall  war-shattered  thrones  be  unreclaimed, 
Whilst  Mankind  hails  Democracy's  new  birth, 
And  seals  the  Advent  of  true  Brotherhood; 
Then  shall  millennial  freedom  be  proclaimed, 
And  Man,  unleashed  from  manacles  of  Dearth, 
Shall  spurn  War's  mad  Arbitrament  of  Blood. 


55 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  WAR  SOCIALISTS 

YE  have  your  noble  Faith  betrayed,  and  sworn 
Allegiance   to    earth's   plundering   Hordes,   who 

crush 

The  homes  of  vanquished  foes,  and  onward  rush 
With  clattering  acclaim  of  power,  torn 
From  dying  breasts  of  Patriots,  proudly  sworn 
To  shield  a  Nation's  Name,  but  not  to  brush 
Aside  its  solemn  treaties,  grimly  scorn 
Its  pledges,  or  Honor's  protests  sternly  hush. 

Democracy  demands  adherents  true, 

Her  noblest  Virtues  shall  ne'er  swerve  nor 
flinch; 

But  flaunt  her  banners  to  the  stormiest  breeze; 

O'er  lacerant  rocks  her  path  with  vigor  hew; 

Wrong's  sceptred  power  from  thrones  malevo 
lent  wrench; 

And  from  her  Foes  his  conquering  ensigns  seize. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE   PARLIAMENT   OF   PEACE 

WHEN  Europe  from  her  bleeding  plains  shall 

rise, 
And  heal  her  wounds  with   Reason's  softening 

balm; 

When  Storms  of  Bitterness  subside  in  calm, 
And  Honor  sets  for  Man  a  loftier  prize: 
Then  Justice,  meted  in  the  vast  Assize 
Of    all    Mankind,    shall    stay    each    threat'ning 

qualm, 

With  measures  lauded  to  the  echoing  skies, 
From  clime  of  rugged  Pine  to  flowering  Palm. 

For  Fleets  and  Parliaments  shall  then  prevail, 

To  Guard  Man's  Common  Weal  with  fairest 
laws. 

When  Crowns  are  crushed  and  Kings  and  Kais 
ers  cease, 

The  Pride  that  feeds  the  Lust  of  Power  shall 
fail, 

And  coarsest  clay  shall  merge,  in  Common 
Cause, 

With  rarest  blood,  to  serve  the  Throne  of 
Peace. 


57 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


THE  FINAL  TREATY 

WHAT    then,    O    Rulers    of    the    World,    when 

hushed 

The  whelming  boom  of  Hell's  disgorging  waves, 
And  Earth,  in  lavished  blood  of  Patriots,  laves; 
When,  drained  of  Power,  the  famished  victim 

's  crushed, 
And  dragooned  hordes  in  peace  are  homeward 

rushed; 

What,  then,  shall  be  the  Goal  that  Power  craves? 
REVENGE,  with  scornful  Hate's  hot  fervor 

flushed? 
Or  will  pale  MERCY  plead  from  unwreathed 

graves? 

Not  till  all  nations  cease  their  armored  craze, 
Expectant  of  the  Clash  themselves  create, 
And  mount  their  Cannon  of  Defense  above 
The   Thrones   of   Peace,   will  War's    devouring 

blaze 

Be  trampled  from  the  earth,  and  Crowns  irate, 
On  battling  plains,  their  Prowess  cease  to  prove. 


SECTION  V. 

BRIEF  CHRONOLOGY  OF  EARLY 

EVENTS 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


CHRONOLOGY  OF  LEADING  EARLY 
EVENTS 

(Selected  from  Nelson's  Encyclopedia) 

1914 

June  28 — Archduke  Francis  Ferdinand,  heir 
to  the  throne  of  Austria-Hungary,  and  his  wife 
are  shot  and  killed  at  Sarajevo,  Bosnia. 

July  23 — Austria-Hungary  sends  an  ultimatum 
to  Servia,  demanding  the  punishment  of  the  ac 
complices  in  the  assassination  of  Archduke  Fer 
dinand,  the  suppression  of  anti-Austrian  socie 
ties  in  Bosnia,  and  the  official  disavowal  of  Ser 
vian  connection  with  anti-Austria  propagandism. 

July  25 — Servia  issues  its  reply,  agreeing  to  all 
demands  of  Austria-Hungary,  except  the  one  stip 
ulating  that  Austro-Hungarian  officials  should  par 
ticipate  in  the  enquiries.  The  Russian  govern 
ment  announces  that  it  will  not  permit  Austria- 
Hungary  to  make  war  upon  Servia  without  good 
reasons. 

July  28 — Austria  declares  war  on  Servia. 
Austria  and  Germany  reject  the  proposal  of  Sir 
Edward  Grey,  British  Foreign  Minister,  that  an 
international  conference  be  called  in  order  to 
avert  a  general  European  war. 

July  29 — The  Czar  of  Russia  issues  an  im 
perial  ukase  ordering  a  mobilization  of  the  Rus- 

61 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


sian  reserves  on  the  Austrian  border.  Austria 
begins  hostilities  against  Servia  by  bombarding 
Belgrade. 

July  31 — Germany  demands  that  Russia  sus 
pend  the  mobilization  of  its  army  within  twelve 
hours.  Martial  law  is  proclaimed  in  Germany. 
Holland,  Belgium  and  Switzerland  order  general 
mobilization  of  their  armies  in  order  to  protect 
frontiers  and  maintain  neutrality. 

Aug.  i — Germany  orders  the  mobilization  of 
its  army  and  declares  war  on  Russia,  following 
the  refusal  of  the  latter  to  stop  mobilizing. 
France  orders  the  immediate  mobilization  of  its 
army.  Italy  announces  its  intention  of  remaining 
neutral,  claiming  that  its  obligations  under  the 
Triple  Alliance  apply  only  to  a  defensive  war, 
and  that  the  one  being  waged  by  Austria  against 
Servia  is  a  war  of  aggression. 

Aug.  2 — Germany  begins  war  on  France  with 
out  a  formal  declaration  by  sending  troops  across 
the  neutral  Grand  Duchy  of  Luxemburg  into 
France.  Germany  summons  Belgium  whose  ter 
ritory  was  guaranteed  under  treaty  by  both  Prus 
sia  and  England  to  permit  the  free  passage  of 
German  troops  despatched  against  France.  Bel 
gium  refuses  permission  and  declares  that  she  will 
defend  her  neutrality.  Russian  troops  invade 
Germany. 

62 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


Aug.  3 — King  Albert  of  Belgium  appeals  to 
King  George  of  England  for  protection  against 
the  violation  of  his  country's  neutrality  by  Ger 
many. 

Aug.  4 — Germany  declares  war  on  France, 
England  and  Belgium.  The  Germans  begin  an 
attack  on  the  fortifications  at  Liege,  Belgium. 
England  declares  war  on  Germany,  following  the 
rejection  of  her  demand  that  Germany  respect 
the  neutrality  of  Belgium. 

Aug.  5 — President  Wilson  proclaims  the  neu 
trality  of  the  United  States. 

Aug.  6 — Austria  declares  war  on  Russia. 

Aug.  9 — The  German  forces  occupy  the  city 
of  Liege  after  an  unexpectedly  stubborn  resist 
ance. 

Aug.  10 — France  proclaims  a  state  of  war  ex 
ists  with  Austria. 

Aug.  15 — Grand  Duke  Nicholas,  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Russian  armies,  promises  au 
tonomy  to  Poland  as  a  reward  of  loyalty  in  the 
present  crisis. 

Aug.  27 — The  French  line  has  fallen  back 
twenty-five  miles  within  the  French  border.  All 
the  forts  of  Namur  fall.  The  Germans  burn  the 
city  of  Louvain. 

Sept.  12 — German  army  in  retreat  along  the 
entire  front  northeast  of  Paris,  ending  in  the  five- 

63 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


day  battle  of  the  Marne,  which  the  French  Gen 
eral  Joffre  announces  to  have  been  ended  in  "an 
undeniable  victory." 

Sept.  20 — Germans  bombard  Rheims,  destroy 
ing  many  public  buildings  and  leaving  the  famous 
cathedral  in  ruins. 

Oct.  3 — The  end  of  the  second  month  of  the 
war  finds  the  Germans  on  the  defensive  in 
France  and  in  Russia  and  on  the  offensive  in  Bel 
gium.  German  forces  occupy  more  than  half  of 
Belgium  and  a  large  portion  of  Northeastern 
France. 

Oct.  9 — Antwerp  surrenders  to  the  Germans. 
King  Albert  and  most  of  his  Belgian  army  es 
cape  to  Ostend. 

Oct.  30 — Russia  declares  that  a  state  of  war 
exists  with  Turkey. 

Nov.  5 — Great  Britain  declares  war  on  Turkey 
and  annexes  the  Island  of  Cyprus. 

Dec.  28 — United  States  Government  in  note 
to  British  Government  remonstrates  against  the 
interference  to  which  the  foreign  trade  of  the 
United  States  has  been  subjected  during  the  war. 
United  States  notifies  Germany  she  does  not 
recognize  Belgium  as  German  territory. 

Feb.  3,  1915 — Great  Britain  announces  that  all 
foodstuffs  from  the  United  States  destined  forGer- 

64 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


many,  Austria  or  Turkey  will  be  regarded  as  con 
ditional  contraband  and  liable  to  seizure. 

Feb.  5 — Germany  announces  that  after  Feb. 
1 8  the  waters  about  the  British  Isles  will  be 
made  a  "war  zone,"  that  enemy's  ships  in  that 
zone  will  be  destroyed,  and  that  all  neutral  ves 
sels  are  warned  to  avoid  these  waters. 

May  7 — Lusitania  sunk. 

Aug.  1 8 — Arabic  sunk. 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


Advertisement 

"THE  STORY  OF  AMERICA  SKETCHED 
IN  SONNETS" 

BY  HENRY  FRANK 

From  the  Book  Review  Digest:  "A  series  of 
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From  the  American  Review  of  Reviews:  "A 
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66 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


WONDERFULLY  WELL  DONE 

From  Littel's  Living  Age:  "The  task  of  the 
Poet  Laureate  has  always  been  considered  a  dif 
ficult  one.  .  .  .  Mr.  Frank  has  boldly  and  de 
liberately  bound  this  kind  of  yoke  upon  himself 
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From  the  Journal  of  Education,  Boston:  "It 
is  certainly  a  unique  idea  to  endeavor  to  tell  the 
story  of  a  great  country  in  a  series  of  sonnets. 
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67 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


throughout  all  of  it.  And  we  shall  find  if  we  mis 
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GRACEFUL,  ELOQUENT,  VIVID 

From  a  column-and-a-half  review  in  Springfield 
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ACCURACY  AND  BEAUTY 

From  Christian  Intelligencer:  "These  sonnets 
are  all  of  a  high  order.  The  reader  need  not 

68 


The  Clash  of  Thrones 


fear  tedious  detail,  for  only  the  most  strategical 
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